Acne

Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Remedies

Acne Treatment Remedies

The contents of this app are provided for educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The information provided should not be considered as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor or other healthcare professional.

What is Acne?

Acne can be difficult to treat. Finding the cause of the acne will help in treating the acne.

Acne should not be punctured as it will result in more pimples.

Acne is a most common skin disease found among people.

Acne is also known as Acne Vulgaris.

Acne Vulgaris is an infection that occurs in the sebaceous gland or the hair follicle.

Acne is characterized as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and zits.

Acne is mostly found on face, neck, chest, back and upper arm.

Acne Symptoms

Cysts – the most severe type of spot caused by acne; they are large pus-filled lumps that look similar to boils and carry the greatest risk of causing permanent scarring.

People who develop lesions or cysts are more likely to be left with scars than those who just have spots.

Some of the symptoms of rosacea are similar to the symptoms of acne.

Acne spots can be small blackheads, or large puss-filled cysts.

Acne spots can leave permanent scars.

Spots usually occur on the face, back and neck.

Some people with severe acne may develop cysts in other areas such as the underarms.

People who suffer from acne often have low self-esteem as a result.

Acne can lead to a medical condition called depression. The depression can be so bad that people think about what it would be like to commit suicide.

In more severe forms of acne inflammatory lesions can occur.

Dark spots on the skin. These spots appear when the acne heals. It can take months or years for dark spots to disappear.

Scars (permanent). People who get acne cysts and nodules often see scars when the acne clears. You can prevent these scars. Be sure to see a dermatologist for treatment if you get acne early — between 8 and 12 years old.

If someone in your family had acne cysts and nodules, you also should see a dermatologist if you get acne. Treating acne before cysts and nodules appear can prevent scars.

Acne Causes

Acne runs in families.

Acne is also common during pregnancy due to changes in hormones.

Because acne is hormone related, flair ups often occur in line with a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Acne is linked to the use of certain contraceptive pills in women.

Use of anabolic steroids may cause acne

Some women experience acne during menopause.

Spots are caused by over production of oil from glands next to hair follicles.

Stress is thought to cause flair-ups in people who suffer from acne, but is not thought to cause acne itself.

Research has shown an association between people who drink milk and people who suffer from acne.

One clinical trial has shown a link between acne and obesity.

Some medications are known to cause acne as a side effect.

Some anti-depressant medication has been shown to cause acne.

Certain types of intrauterine contraceptive devices can cause acne.

A condition called polycystic ovary syndrome can cause acne.

Pollution is thought to be a cause of acne and may be why acne is less common in rural areas.

Acne Treatment

Hormonal medications may also be used to control more severe acne.

During a severe flair up, antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce the spots.

Creams containing an anti-inflammatory drug can reduce acne.

Many people who suffer from acne find that over the counter face washes and skin cleansers can help reduce spots, as long as they are oil free.

Some soaps can aggravate acne and make it worse, it is best to stick to face washes with no added fragrance and that are oil free.

Tea tree oil has been shown to be effective in reducing acne, there are many facial cleansers available containing tea tree.

Some people find that taking a zinc supplement reduces their acne, this is because zinc can help reduce inflammation.

Some acne sufferers have found that light therapy helps reduce spots.

Although acne responds well to treatment, it takes a few weeks for improvement to be noticeable.

Most acne sufferers will need to continue ‘maintenance’ treatment for at least a few years to prevent acne spots returning.

Although often recommended, skin exfoliation has actually been shown to irritate the skin and increase spots.

Laser treatment has been shown to reduce spots, but it will not prevent another breakout from happening.

Some people recommend argan oil for treating acne because of its antioxidant effects, however no studies have been conducted on its effectiveness.

There is some evidence to suggest that a small daily dose of aspirin can help reduce acne spots.

Many people find that alternative remedies such as Chinese herbs can reduce spots.

A drug called isotretinoin has been shown to be very effective against severe acne, however it can have serious side effects and is usually a last resort.

Most acne treatments are not suitable for pregnant women.

Women who are trying to become pregnant should stop taking acne medication.

Some acne medications are not suitable while breast feeding.

Benzoyl Peroxide cream is very effective in managing mild to moderate acne.

Some people believe that applying a little apple cider vinegar to the skin can help reduce spots.

Another way to reduce spots is to mix honey and cinnamon then apply it as a face mask.

Honey has antibacterial properties which can help reduce spots.

Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties which can reduce the amount of bacteria that causes spots.

Natural yoghurt applied to the skin can help reduce spots.

Mashed papaya can be used as a face mask to reduce spots.

Papaya has lots of natural enzymes that have been shown to reduce spots and repair damaged skin.

Rubbing a banana peel over the skin can reduce spots.

Aloe vera is effective against acne when applied to the skin.

Mixing baking soda with water to form a paste, then using this as a facemask can be effective against spots.

Putting lemon juice on spots can reduce redness and swelling.

Wash your pillowcase regularly to prevent oil that is transferred onto it during sleep from being transferred back onto your face.

Applying cold green tea to the affected area has been shown in studies to reduce spots.

Applying paste made from turmeric helps to reduce acne and scars.

Crushed garlic, when applied to the acne helps in fighting the bacteria that causes pimples.

Drink pleanty of water keeps your skin hydrated and helps in flushing out the impurities by sweating the toxins out.

There is no known method for preventing acne from occurring.

Acne Statistics & Facts

Acne is very common and will affect most people at some point in their lives.

Acne is most common during puberty but can occur at any age.

Around 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 suffer from acne.

Acne is most common between the ages of 14 and 19.

Only around 5% of women suffer acne over the age of 25.

Only around 1% of men suffer acne over the age of 25.

People who suffer from acne are more likely to suffer from depression than someone who doesn’t have acne.

A vaccine against inflammatory acne has been tested on mice and showed promising results, however it has not been proven effective in humans.

Acne is more common in boys than in girls.

On average acne lasts around 4-5 years.

Picking and squeezing spots can in fact make acne worse and lead to scarring.

Spending a lot of time in hot, humid places can make acne worse due to increased sweating.

Acne is more likely to occur under tight clothing, such as under the bra straps.

Acne is not caused by poor hygiene.

Excessive washing can actually make acne worse.

Acne is not an infection, but rather a consequence of a combination of hormonal changes, inflammation and overgrowth of natural bacteria found on skin.

Acne is not contagious.

Contrary to popular believe, exposure to UV light such as sunlight or sunbeds does not cure acne.

An acne sufferer should only use make-up that is labelled as ‘non-comedogenic’ – this means it won’t clog pores.

The medical term for acne spots is ‘comedones.’

Acne on its own isn’t normally serious however, particularly in women, if acne appears alongside other symptoms such as excessive hair growth it should be investigated by a doctor.

Light therapy does not actually cure acne, but can reduce spots.

No one knows why puberty triggers acne in some teenagers, but not all.

The glands that produce the oil on your skin are called ‘sebaceous glands.’

The fluid produced by the sebaceous glands and often trapped in spots is called sebum.

The black part of a blackhead is not dirt as most people think.

An acne spot actually takes 2-3 weeks to form under the skin.

The medical term for acne is ‘acne vulgaris.’

Acne is a chronic condition, which means it will last several months or even years.

Blackheads are not dirt under the skin as some people think, in fact they are made up of oxidized oil under the skins surface.

The skin condition rosacea is sometimes confused with acne but the two are actually different conditions.

Men who suffer from acne should take extra care when shaving.

Shaving with an electric razor may be a better option than a manual razor for men who suffer with acne.

Acne Treatment Remedies plus

The contents of this app are provided for educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The information provided should not be considered as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor or other healthcare professional.

What is Acne?

Acne occurs when oil or sebum gets clogged by dead skin in the hair follicles.

Severe acne leads to inflamation and redness. It can also leave scars.

Different types of acne are whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nobules and cysts.

Acne occurs on people in the the age group of 11-30. It most commonly affects adolescents and young adults.

If the outer skin of the pimple is punctured the bacteria causing the pimples will be forced even deeper resulting in inflamation, redness and even scar.

Acne Symptoms

Blackheads are small black or yellowish bumps that develop on the skin; they are not filled with dirt but are black because the inner lining of the hair follicle produces pigmentation (colouring).

Whiteheads have a similar appearance to blackheads, but they can be firmer and will not empty when squeezed.

Papules are small red bumps that may feel tender or sore.

Pustules are similar to papules, but have a white tip in the centre that is caused by a build-up of pus.

Nodules are large hard lumps that build up beneath the surface of the skin and can be painful.

Acne Causes

Acne appears when a pore in our skin clogs. This clog begins with dead skin cells.

The excess oil changes the activity of a bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the skin, causing it to create pus and inflammation.

Certain hormones, particularly those produced during puberty are thought to be the cause of acne.

Hormones also thicken the lining of hair follicles which can cause blocked pores, leading to spots.

Oil based make-up can block pores and make acne worse.

Acne Treatment

Acne cannot be cured but can usually be controlled well with treatment.

Acne often disappears on its own as hormones settle when a person reaches their 20’s.

A combined contraceptive pill is an effective treatment for women who suffer acne.

Eating a diet lower in sugar and carbohydrates may reduce the symptoms of acne.

Creams containing benzoyl peroxide applied to the skin have been shown to reduce acne spots.

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